Well three weeks ago I took the plunge. I am now the proud owner of a 1981 PSC 37'. From what I can decipher from the hull number she is number 104 or the fourth hull built by Pacific Seacraft. Much of what is on her is original so after an enjoyable four day trip I started digging. First on my list is the fuel tank. I pulled the tank to find it in surprisingly good condition. Under the tank I found a muddy, oily, watery mess. Being an older boat my bilge design maybe different but what I have are a front bilge, mid bilge where tank is located and a rear bilge. The front and rear I will be able to clean whenever I want but the mid bilge will require removing the tank. I started thinking :eek: and decided that I would like to glass in a tube under the tank between the keel bolts connecting the front and rear bilges. In doing so I will keep the inaccessable bilge clean from anchor water and mud from the front and engine residues from the rear. In the case that I ever had a tank failure, it would be contained in the mid bilge where there is nothing for it to mix and contaminate with for easier clean up. It will also keep my tank from sitting in water greatly reducing corrosion of the tank. My question is does anyone see any reason, safety or other why I shouldn't do this?
Thanks, -Scupp

Minnewaska

06-13-2013 06:28 PM

Re: Bilge improvment

Would that bilge have a pump to evacuate a leak? If so, I see no problem offhand.

However, your issue is pretty common. We must have dozens of square feet of bilge we can't get to. We just shut off the pump, pour in a bottle of bilge cleaner, fill with a few inches of water and go sailing to slosh it around. Works okay.

scuppersinspired

06-13-2013 09:53 PM

Re: Bilge improvment

There are no through hulls in that area so the only leak would be from hull damage. If that were to occur once the water got high enough it would flood into the rear bilge where the hoses to the fuel tank go through the bulk head, an area cutout of 6"x8".

Minnewaska

06-14-2013 12:15 AM

Re: Bilge improvment

Leaks can come from above too, simple through the deck or a broken port light, etc. In fact, a swamping from the stern and down the companionway can be one of the most catastrophic.

34crealock

06-14-2013 10:43 AM

Re: Bilge improvment

If the 37 is like the 34 there isn't much room in that bilge with the fuel tank installed so any great surge would end up flowing forward or aft on the sole?:confused:

MarcHall

06-16-2013 02:32 PM

Re: Bilge improvment

I have pulled the fuel tank a few times on Crazy Fish.

I have pulled it to
> clean the bilge
> check for the bottom of the fuel tank for holes
> replace the fuel tank which had a couple of small holes
> access/clean up the wire under the floor on the port side
> access/replace the fresh water hose under the floor on the starboard side.

The boat as delivered from the factory had a submersabile bilge pump forward about a foot aft of the mast compression post and a manual bilge pump in the cockpit with a hose that leads to a point just forward of the access hatch that the ladder sits on top of.

Since Crazy Fish sits a bit off of her lines with the stern sitting lower then the bow, bilge water tends to collect a bit aft of the submersabile bilge pump. One solution seems to be to limit the amount of water entering from anywhere.

A second solution I am working on but have yet to install:
A Jabsco Diaphram Bilge Pump or similiar located in the space beneath the galley trash can with a hose running to the same point where the manual bilge pump runs. This would limit bilge water to the deepest area of the bilge and normally keep the bottom of the fuel tank dry.

It will get done at some point but first I need to:
Install Newmar terminal strip in area adjacent to the mast compression post behind the three drawer cabinet. Will land the new mast wiring here. From the factory the wires were terminated at the base of the mast. The new solution seems better.
Finish the NMEA 2000 cabling to add the new B&G Triton wind instrument at the top of the mast.
Re-connect the WH below decks autopilot to the rudder post after replacing the wheel with tiller steering.
Replace the top of the new lopolight anchor light with lopolight plate that includes a mount for a windex and install windex.
Take the boat out sailing.

Scupp,
The previous owners of Indigo installed a secondary bilge pump similar to what you are thinking. It consists of a Jabsco pump with a small diameter clear hose led under the fuel tank, a small strainer, and a simple on/off switch. It works great and has kept our bilge dry as a bone under the tank (we just pulled the tank a couple of months ago). I also threw an absorbent towel (like a sham-wow) in the bilge which catches most of the drips before they can run under the tank. When i suspect water in the bilge I flip the switch and let the jabsco pump out the water. The clear hose makes it easy to see when all of the water is expelled. Highly recommended.

34crealock

06-17-2013 08:06 PM

Re: Bilge improvment

I'm installing a new fuel tank next week. Alloy twice as thick and coated better and I think I'll go with the extra bilge pump also. It is easy to pop the tank out to inspect it and I'm sure glad I did.:)

steneck

07-08-2013 05:08 PM

Re: Bilge improvment

I have a PSC 34 (scheel keel) so I think the shape of my fuel tank is different.

However, the previous owner had epoxied a PVC pipe between the keel bolts to keep the tank away from them. The aft most region, had no PVC (space too tight?) and when I pulled my tank two days ago, I found two corrosion pits. There was obvious electrolysis on the aft bolts.

I've had the spots repaired and new aluminium welded over the entire aft portion to about 1" above the waterline evident on the fuel tank.

I'll then paint the entire tank bottom again.

Obviously, some bilge water collects in the aft section. I must keep the central bilge dry as possible to prevent that.

My question to all of you is whether there is logic in me epoxying over the keel bolts. Seems to me if I ever need access to them, I can (with difficulty) remove the epoxy. However, wouldn't this stop the two metals from reacting?

Bob Steneck
Alaria PSC 34
Christmas Cove, Maine

BirdBrain333

08-05-2013 12:05 PM

Re: Bilge improvment

I'd love to know where you located the pump and where it discharges.
Thanks, Jay

sv Kenlanu

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BMLipiec
(Post 1045192)

Scupp,
The previous owners of Indigo installed a secondary bilge pump similar to what you are thinking. It consists of a Jabsco pump with a small diameter clear hose led under the fuel tank, a small strainer, and a simple on/off switch. It works great and has kept our bilge dry as a bone under the tank (we just pulled the tank a couple of months ago). I also threw an absorbent towel (like a sham-wow) in the bilge which catches most of the drips before they can run under the tank. When i suspect water in the bilge I flip the switch and let the jabsco pump out the water. The clear hose makes it easy to see when all of the water is expelled. Highly recommended.